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Marine borer resistance of various experimental polymeric materials, otherwise suitable for marine electric cable insulation, was evaluated. Twenty-five candidate formulations containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin were prepared. Four non-PVC formulations containing chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylenepropylene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, and crosslinked polyethylene, respectively, were also prepared. The presence of inert fillers or toxicants or a change in plastic hardness in the PVC formulations had little effect on the amount of pholad damage. Teredo damage was not as extreme or extensive as pholad damage. The PVC formulations containing the inert, inorganic fillers were virtually undamaged by teredos; those containing toxicants were also relatively free of damage by these organisms. Creosote as a co-plasticizer protected one of the PVC formulations against teredos. The hardness in PVC plastics was not an important variable. The cellulose acetate-butyrate was heavily damaged by both teredos and pholads.